MP3 Alexei Zoubov - Rejuvenation Project

The best saxophone player to come out or Russia playing his own eclectic modern/free jazz compositions with an infusion of world and chamber music.

9 MP3 Songs
JAZZ: Free Jazz, JAZZ: World Fusion



Details:
The Project

There are several reasons for naming this CD âRejuvenation Projectâ. One of them is that I tried to bring new vigor and freshness into my old compositions. The other is that I firmly believe in rejuvenating power of good music (and I really try to produce such).

And finally, amazing and outstanding musicians that made this project possible are very young (but very mature musically), and during several gigs I played with them and the work on this CD, I really felt getting younger and younger every day.

My partners in this project have a very solid music education: Brian Friedland at University of Southern California, Hamilton Price at University of Texas at Austin and the youngest, Jens Kuross is fresh from the prestigious Berklee College Of Music. They truly deserve âfurther recognitionâ and exposure!

The Music.

This disc contains my compositions spanning 40 years from 1965 to the present, the last three written right before the recording sessions.

A little more about the pieces (not in the order of appearance on the CD).

âDead Endâ (1965), âRussian Suiteâ (1968) анд âWhite Sandsâ (1972-2005 reflect my deep interest in (or better to say, infatuation with) folk music of the world.

âDead Endâ is loosely based on Azerbaijani âmugamsâ and was first played by Crescendo jazz quintet at 1966 Moscow Jazz Festival. It is dedicated to one of my heroes, Joe Henderson, and although I never could or even tried to imitate him, I guess youâll hear the influence.

A three part âRussian Suiteâ (âByliny-Starinyâ) was first recorded live by Crescendo quartet at 1968 Moscow Jazz Festival. For this recording I changed it quite a bit. There are several quotes from real Russian folk melodies there. Please note an amazing bowed bass solo by Hamilton Price in conversation with tenor sax in the first part, out of this world work on drums by Jens Kuross all through the suite and especially in his solo in the second part and very delicate but also strikingly powerful solos and comping throughout by Brian Friedland.

âWhite Sandsâ is a moody piece influenced by many hauntingly beautiful Middle-Eastern melodies and dedicated to my wife Marina, who saw this image in her dream. ECM influence also should be noticeable.

Three compositions: âRadical Tangoâ (1984), âPolka Beamsâ (& Moon Dots) and âPink Marchâ (both 2006) are from still incomplete âAnti-Social Studiesâ suite influenced by Carla Bleyâs âSocial Studiesâ CD. I humbly dedicate this suite of mine to this outstanding pianist and composer.

I played and recorded âRadical Tangoâ before with great pianist Milcho Leviev and this composition is dedicated to him and Dr. Leslie Eber, who practically saved my life and so made this CD possible.

âPolka Beamsâ (aka âCherny Is Deadâ) and âPink Marchâ (aka âWhen Neocons Go Marching Inâ) are dedicated both to Prokofiev and Shostakovich (but not to neocons). I attempted to combine themes in the style of contemporary chamber music with absolutely free improvised sections. I hope these pieces go deeper than just being funny.

And, lastly, I wrote âSweet Polish Ladyâ for a feature film back in 1983. The idea was to make it sound Polish by using the harmonic structure in the style of Chopin. It was never intended to be played as a jazz tune, but I think it adds Slavic nostalgia and diversity to the project. Note the elegant and touching solo by Brian Friedland (piano).

It is customary now to print a long gratitude list on every CD. I am deeply grateful to everybody and each one of you and I just donât have the space to print such a list!

I am grateful to those who listen to this CD whether they like it or not, to all my friends (and enemies â if there are any), to those who complimented me on my music and those who harshly criticized it, to those that helped me and those who put obstacles in my way because I learned from both, to those who taught me how to live my life and make my music and to those who taught me how not to⦠I am grateful to everybody and everything for influencing me and making me who I am and being able to humbly offer this work of mine and my Rejuvenation Team. I hope to add some joy to your life and may be even rejuvenate you a little.

Who Am I?

I was born in 1936 in Moscow, Russia into the family of scientists and was supposed to become a scientist too. Following the family tradition I graduated from Moscow University with masterâs degree in Physics and was offered a prestigious and exciting job other aspiring physicists would kill for.

But⦠insidious serpent of jazz had been seducing me since the early 50-ties. Stalin was still alive when I started to spend nights trying to tune to jazz programs of the Voice of America, BBC and other similar stations. In my sophomore year at the University I surrendered to the urge to play jazz and started first on clarinet and then saxophone and joined the early wave of jazz rebirth in the Soviet Union. It is worth mentioning that at this time playing jazz in the Soviet Union was considered not far from committing treason!

So, instead of working in physics, I went on the road with the Oleg Lundstrem big band, then by far the best in Russia. Then followed a 7 year engagement with Vadim Ludvikovsky Radio and Television big band and then until my departure to USA I worked as a studio musician recording and composing music for Studio Melodia and films.

In the late 50âs, 60âs and 70âs jazz music became accepted (or tolerated). In the 60âs Moscow had several jazz clubs, yearly jazz festivals and even started to send jazz musicians to jazz festivals in other countries.

I led and participated in many jazz groups, most famous being my Crescendo quartet, duo with keyboardist Igor Saulski, Barometer quintet, etc.

In 1984 I finally settled in Los Angeles where I live and continue composing and playing. During my 50+ years in music I had the honor and pleasure to share the stage and record with many jazz greats like Gary Burton, Chic Corea, Pete Cristlieb, Paul Gonsalves, Charlie Haden, âTootieâ Heath, Dick Hyman, Keith Jarrett, Milcho Leviev and no less important Russian musicians like Konstantin Bakholdin, Gennady Golshtein, German Lukyanov, Konstantin Nosov, Boris Rychkov and many, many others I canât list for the lack of space.

From all our Rejuvenation Team: Happy rejuvenation!